Reclining seat actuating mechanism



Oct. 4, 1966 R. L. EDWARDS RECLINING SEAT ACTUATII IG MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001:. 26, '1964 INVENTOR ROBERT L. EDWARDS 3M, Mdfimmlfl ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W 3 mw ROBERT L. EDWARDS R. L. EDWARDS RECLINING SEAT ACTUATING MECHANISM Oct. 4, 1966 Filed Oct. 26, 1964 ATTORNE United States Patent 3,276,816 RECLINING SEAT ACTUATING MECHANISM Robert L. Edwards, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Artnell Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 406,382 11 Claims. (Cl. 297359) The present invention relates to an actuating mechanism for reclining seats of the type commonly employed in transportation vehicles such as, e.g., buses and the like.

The present invention is more particularly concerned with a novel, simply operable actuating mechanism associated with the armrest of such seat to control the inclination of the back portion of the seat, and a primary object of the invention is to provide an actuating mechanism by means of which the seat can be quickly adjustably reclined within predetermined limits and firmly retained in such adjusted position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a reclining seat actuating mechanism having an actuating lever or handle conveniently accessible at the front of the armrest thereby permitting simple finger manipulation thereof to condition the mechanism to permit adjustment of the back portion of the seat to the desired position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an actuating mechanism which permits dressing of the seat releasing the actuating lever or handle, i.e., permits movement of the seat to a generally vertical position through application of force against the rear of the seat without releasing the actuating lever, thereby permitting quick alignment of all of the vehicle seats by attendants.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features herein after fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 comprises a perspective view showing a reclining seat having an armrest incorporating the actuating mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, partially exploded view showig in more detail the manner in which the actuating mechanism of the present invention is mounted relative to the seat back and the seat frame, with the arm cap being omitted for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of certain of the actuating mechanism components, with the actuator body being shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the actuating mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the actuating mechanism illustrated in FIG. 4;

'FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Referring now in more detail to the drawings, wherein 3,276,816 Patented Oct. 4, 1966 like reference numerals are employed to designate like parts, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a reclining seat of the type generally found in transportation vehicles such as, for example, buses and airplanes is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a reclining back portion 12 and a bottom cushion portion 14. The latter is suitably mounted on legs commonly designated at 16 which are secured to the floor upon which the seat is supported. In the form shown, a vertical arm 18 is suitably secured to the fixed frame of the seat, and an arm-rest generally indicated at 20 is operatively connected thereto to permit relative movement therebetween. The armrest 20 includes an arm cap 22 and a rear cap 24 which is connected to the seat back 12 for movement therewith. By means of the actuating mechanism to be presently described, the armrest 20 is adjustable in a forward and rearward direction relative to the fixed vertical arm 18 thereby to variably position within predetermined limits the back portion 12 of the seat.

Referring to FIG. 2, the rear cap 24 is transversely apertured as indicated at 26 and counterbored to receive a preferably nylon bushing 28. A pin 30 having an enlarged diameter head 32 is disposed within the bushing and mounted to the seat back 12 in any suitable manner forming no part of the present invention. A tubular actuator housing or body generally indicated at 34 extends into the rear cap 24 and is pinned thereto. As best shown in FIG. 10, the rear cap 24 is provided with a longitudinally extending circular opening 36 which is adapted to receive the trailing end 38 of the tubular actuator body 34, with the latter in turn telescopically receiving therewithin a circular sleeve 40. The rear cap 24 is provided with centrally directed openings commonly designated at 42 in each corner thereof which are adapted to be aligned with openings of corresponding diameter formed in the trailing end 38 of the body 34 and in the sleeve 40 whereby the body can be secured to the rear cap by means of pins commonly designated at 44 which may, for example, be press fitted in the openings and which extend inwardly of the sleeve 40. It will thus be seen that movement of the tubular body 34 in a forward or rearward direction effects movement of the rear cap 24 and thus the back portion 1-2 of the seat 10 therewith. Vertical openings 46 and 48 are formed in the rear cap and are adapted to be aligned with openings formed in the end =38 of the actuator body and the sleeve 40 for receiving suitable fastener means (not shown) for mounting the arm cap 22 on the rear cap 24.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the vertical arm 18 has attached to the upper end thereof a yoke 50 formed with openings 52 in the legs thereof. A trunnion 54 having laterally extending pins commonly designated at 5-6 is mounted on the yoke with the noted pins extending through the openings 52. The trunnion 54 is provided with a threaded opening 58 for receiving a threaded rod 60 which is operatively connected to certain of the actuating mechanism components, as Will be hereinafter described. The yoke 50 thus longitudinally fixes the rod 60 and connected components to the fixed frame of the seat.

The tubular actuator body 34 further comprises a main, intermediate section 62 and a forward, partially reduced section 64. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 11, such reduction is obtained through the cutting away of the top portion of the tubular body toreceive a wedge plate 66. The bottom of the tube is similarly cut away as indicated at 68 to accommodate relative movement of the tubular body with components to be hereinafter described. The wedge plate 66 is secured to the forward section 64 of the tubular body 34 by means of a pair of screws 70* which extend through the wedge plate into engagement with a bushing 72 mounted within the forward section 64 of the tubular body and secured thereto. The forward end of the wedge plate '66 is formed with a projection 74, shown in dashed lines in FIG..4, which interengages a complemental opening in a bushing 76 of similar construction to the bushing 72 and similarly mounted within the forward section 64 of the actuator body.

A main spring 84 is enclosed within the main section 62 of the actuator body 34, with the forward convolution of the spring abutting the bushing 72 and the opposite end convolution of the spring engaging a bushing 86 which is relatively loosely mounted within the actuator body 34 to permit movement of the latter relative thereto.

The bushing 86 is formed with a preferably rectangular central opening 87 for receiving a slide bar assembly comprising a plurality of elongated slide bars commonly designated at 88 which are formed with circular openings adjacent such rear end for receiving a transverse pin 90. As best shown in FIG. 6, the. pin 90 extends through the slide bars, the bushing 86, and the actuator body, the latter being formed with longitudinal slots 92 and 94 at opposed sides thereof to accommodate such pin. The body is thus guided during longitudinal movement by such slotted arrangement. The slide bars at the rear end mounting thereof are separated by a plurality of interleaved washers commonly designed at 96.

The slide bars 88 extend through and beyond the length of the actuator body 34 and are secured at their forward ends to a clevis 98, best seen in FIG. 3, by means of a transverse pin 100 which extends through openings in the clevis legs and through aligned openings formed in the forward ends of the slide bars. Spacing washers (not shown) are similarly provided interleaved with the slide bars to provide predetermined spacing between the same. The clevis 98 mounts the threaded rod 60 above described whereby the slide bars 88 are fixed to the seat frame.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, a wedge-shaped opening .102 partially defined by forwardly converging side walls is formed in the wedge plate 66. Side clamping bars 104 and 106 extend upwardly through the opening 102 and a lock bar assembly comprising a plurality of lock bars commonly designated at 108 are disposed between the side clamp bars and are operatively connected thereto by pins 110 and 112. The pin 110 extends through aligned openings tformed in the side clamp bars and the lock bars relatively adjacent their upper ends, and the pin 112 is disposed relatively adjacent the bottom of such members and through aligned openings in the forward portion 64 of the actuator body. The pin 112 thus mounts the lock bars for longitudinal movement thereof with the actuator body and additionally provides a pivot for relative pivotal movement of the lock bars relative to the actuator body. The lock bars 108 extend between the spaced slide bars 8-8 and terminate below the same, with the relative pivotal movement of the bars relative to the actuator body being accommodated by the noted bottom opening 68 formed in the forward portion 64 of the actuator body.

A third pin 116 is disposed between and through the side clamp bars adjacent the tops thereof and has disposed therearound a sleeve 1 18 which has connected thereto a release rod 120. The release rod 120 extends forwardly within a generally U-shaped handle bracket :124 having depending leg portions 126 and 128 which extend freely at both sides of the forward portion 64 of the actuator body. As best shown in FIG. 9, the forward end of the release rod 120 extends through a transverse opening formed in a cylindrical collar 130, and is secured thereto by means of a set screw .132.

A handle .134 is operatively connected to the collar 130, and thus the release rod 120, for moving the same. The handle includes a bifurcated inner end .136 the legs 138 and 140 of which extend upwardly andare provided with aligned openings for receiving, respectively, pins 142 and 144. Thepins extend through openings formed in rearwardly and compressing the collar 130 into engagement with the release rod 120, with spacing washers commonly designated at 146 being disposed between the legs 138 and 140 and the collar 130.

The handle 134 is pivotally connected .to the handle bracket 124 by means of pivot pins commonly designated at 148 which extend through openings provided therefor in bracket extension members commonly designated at 149 and in the leg portions 138 and 140 of the handle.

A handle spring 150 is telescoped around the release rod with the forward end of the spring contacting the collar and the rear end convolution of the spring .150 contacting a generally L-shaped member 152 the top leg of which is secured to the handle bracket 124. The depending leg of the member 152 is formed with an elongated slot to loosely receive the release rod 120 and to permit relative vertical movement between such members; The spring 150 is normally compressed and urges the collar 130 and thus the handle .134 operatively connected thereto in a direction clockwise relative to the axis of the pivot pins 148. The spring 1 50 simultaneously urges the release rod 120 collar 130 in a forward direction thereby urging the clamp bars- 104 and 106 into the relatively smaller portion of the opening 102 in the wedge plate thereby tfrictionally clamping the lock and slide bars.

The handle 134 is provided with a hand-engaging portion 160 by means of which the hand of the occupant can readily grasp the handle and raise the same upwardly. When the handle 134 is thus raised, the leg portions 138 and will rotate counterclockwise about pins 148 thereby moving the collar 130 and thus the release rod 120 the handle spring 150. Movement of the release rod 120 rearwardly will effect movement in the same direction of the lock bars and side clap bars operatively connected thereto, thereby tcrmihating the clamping action between the lock bars and the slide barsthe latter of which remain stationary.

It will be apparent that in FIGS. 2-11 the arm cap of the armrest has been omitted and that the same will fit over and be attached to the assembly shown in any suitable manner, with the handle 134 extending forwardly thereof as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the operation of the actuating mechanism of the present invention, the actuator body 34 and the back 12 of the seat are shown in their forwardmost position. The main spring 84 urges the actuator body toward such forward position, and the handle spring biases the release rod 120 forwardly which in turn urges the side clamp bars 104, 106 and the lock bars 108 forwardly about their pivotal mounting 112 into the ,progressively smaller portion of the wedge-shaped opening 102 in wedge plate 66. The lock bars thereby tightly frictionally engage the longitudinally fixed slide bars 88 thereby frictional'ly retaining the actuator body and thus the seat back 12 in their forwardmost positions. The slide and lock bars thus in effect compromise a multi-disc clutch providing clutching or gripping action responsive to compression of the side clamp bars as the same are urged forwardly into the progressively smaller opening in the wedge plate.

When it is desired to adjustably recline the seat back 12, the occupantneed merely grasp the handle 134 and lift the same upwardly, and thereafter apply body pressure against the seat back to move the same to the desired angle of adjustment. When the handle 134 isthus lifted, the release rod 120 is moved rerawardly as above described thereby moving the side clamp bars 104, 106 rearwardly thereby relieving the clamping pressure thereon by the converging walls of the wedge-shaped opening in the wedge plate. The frictional clamping of the slide and lock bars is consequently relieved thereby permitting the rearward movement of the actuator body and the back portion 12 of the seat without substantial frictional resistance from the slide bars 88. The handle 134 is lifted through the connection thereof with theagainst the bias of the handle spring 150 as above described which is compressed between the member 152 and the collar 130.

The handle 1'34 remains lifted until the desired position of adjustment is attained at which time the handle 134 is released. The extent of adjustment or movement of the actuator body is control-led by the length of the elongated slots 92 and 94 for-med therein, with the pin 90 interconnecting the rear end portions of the slide bars contacting the forward-most ends of the slots 92 and 94 when the maximum degree of movement has been reached. During rearward movement of the actuator body, the main spring 84 is of course progressively compressed. When the handle 134 is released, the spring 150 urges the release rod 120 and thus the lock bars 108 and side clamp bars 104, 106 operatively connected thereto forwardly about their pivot 112 whereby the side clamp bars 104 and 106 move convergingly into the progressively smaller portion of the wedge-shaped opening 102 in the wedge plate. Such convergence of the side clamp bars effects, as described, a clutching engagement of the lock bars 108 with the slide bars 88 thereby providing a frictional force of sufiicient magnitude to maintain the seat in its adjusted position.

The seat back is returned to its forwardmost position by lifting the handle 134 thereby disengaging the lock and slide bars as described. If the seat is occupied, the occupant temporarily releases body pressure against the seat back to permit such forward movement. The compressive force in the main spring 84 effects such forward movement of the actuator body and thus the seat back, with the forward movement terminating, if the handle remains lifted, when the pin 90 engages the rear end portions of the slots 92 and 94 formed in the actuator body. Subsequent release of the handle 134 serves to again frictionally engage the slide and lock bars to retain the seat in its forwardmost position.

Although in maintaining the vehicle and preparing the same for subsequent occupancy the seat backs 12 can be vertically aligned or dressed by individual handle release as described, an important feature of the present invention resides in the ability to dress the seat backs without releasing each handle, merely by applying force to the rear of the seat back 12. Through application of such force the actuator body is moved forwardly, carrying therewith the lock bars 108 pivotally connected thereto. There is, however, relative movement between the upper and lower portions of the lock bars by virtue of the mounting of such upper portions through the handle assembly. Such relative movement effects pivotal movement of the lock bars in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 112 thereby disengaging the lock bars 108 from frictional engagement with the slide bars 88 to permit forward movement of the actuator body. When the seat back has been moved to its forwardmost position, the spring 150 will bias the lock bars forwardly into the small portion of the wedge plate opening thereby frictionally retaining the seat back 12 in an upright position.

It will be understood that although in the described embodiment the actuator body is movable relative to the slide bar assembly, the actuator body and the lock bar assembly may be made fixed and the slide bars movable, in which event the latter 'would of course be operatively connected to the seat back for variably adjusting the same. Such an arrangement would find advantageous use when the entire armrest is desired to be stationary. It will also be understood that it may in certain instances be preferable to provide a linkage between the movable member of the actuating mechanism and the adjustable seat back, with the linkage transferring the actuator movement and being controlled by means accessible at the front of the stationary armrest.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. An actuating mechanism for vehicle seats of the type having a reclining back section and a stationary frame, comprising an actuator body operatively connected to the back portion of said seat and movable therewith, a slide bar assembly longitudinally disposed within said actuator body and spaced therefrom comprising a plurality of individual slide bars operatively connected to said stationary frame, a lock bar assembly comprising a plurality of individual lock bars each of which is interleaved with individual slide bars, said lock bars being operatively connected to said actuator body for movement therewith and relative to said slide bars, means for frictionally clamping said slide and lock bars for retaining said actuator body and said reclining back section in various positions of adjustment, and means for temporarily relieving such frictional clamping to permit movement of said lock bars and said actuator body relative to said slide bars and said stationary frame thereby to permit adjustment of said reclining back section to the desired position.

-2. The combination of claim 1 further including means to limit the adjustable movement of said reclining back section.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lock bar assembly further comprises side clamp bars disposed on opposite sides of said lock bars, said lock bars being pinned to said clamp bars adjacent opposite ends thereof.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said look bars and said clamp bars are pivotally connected adjacent the lower ends thereof to said actuator body.

5. An actuating mechanism for seats of the type having a reclining back section and a stationary frame, comprising an actuator body operatively connected to the back portion of said seat and movable therewith, a slide bar assembly longitudinally disposed within said actuator body and spaced therefrom comprising a plurality of individual slide bars operatively connected to said stationary frame, a lock bar assembly comprising a plurality of individual loc-k bars each of which is interleaved with individual slide bars, said lock bars being pivotally connected to said actuator body for movement therewith and relative to said slide bars, means for fr-ictionally clamping said slide and lock bars for retaining said actuator body and said reclining back section in various positions of adjustment, handle means operatively connected to said lock bars and functionally when moved to pivot the same about their pivotal connection with said actuating body thereby temporarily relieving such frictional clamping to permit movement of said lock bars and said actuator body relative to said slide bars and said stationary frame thereby to permit adjustment of said reclining back section to the desired position, subsequent release of said handle means effecting re-establishment of said clamping condition.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said lock bar assembly further includes side clamp bars disposed at opposite sides of said lock bars and to which said lock bars are pinned.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said means for frictionally clamping said slide and lock bars comprises a wedge plate mounted on said actuator body, said wedge plate being formed with an opening having forwardly converging side .walls, said side clamp and lock bars extending upwardly through such opening with the side clamp bars being adapted to contact said converging side walls, and spring means operatively connected to said slide clamp bars for urging the same forwardly into the progressively smaller opening defined by the converging side walls of the wedge plate opening, the side clamp bars being thereby drawn together effecting a tight frictional engagement of said lock and slide bars.

8. An actuating mechanism for seats of the type having a reclining back section variably adjustable between for- Ward and rearward positions and a bottom cushion section secured to a stationary frame, comprising an actuator body operatively connected to the back portion of said seat and movable therewith, means limiting the movement of said actuator body and thus said reclining back section, a main spring biasing said body to its forwardmost position, a slide bar assembly longitudinally disposed within said actuator body and spaced therefrom'comprising a plurality of individual slide bars operatively connected to said stationary frame, a lock bar assembly comprising a plurality of individual lock bars each of which is interleaved with individual slide bars, said lock bars being pivotally connected to said actuator body for movement therewith and relative to said slide bars, means including a second spring operatively connected to said lock bars for biasing said lock bars into frictional clamping engagementswith said slide bars for retaining said actuator body and said reclining back section in various positions of adjustment, and handle means effective when actuated to move said lock bars relative to said slide bar against the bias of said second spring for terminating such frictional clamping to permit movement of said lock bars and saidractuator body relative to said slide bars and said stationary frame thereby to permit adjustment of said reclining back section to the desired position, said second spring following release of said handle means re-establishing said frictional clamping condition.

9. The combination of claim '8 wherein said means for frictionally clamping said slide and lock bars further includes side clamp bars pinned to said lock bars and disposed at opposite sides of said lock bars, a plate secured to said actuator body, said plate being formed with a wedge-shaped opening, said second spring urging said side clamp bars and lock bars into the progressively smaller portion of such opening whereby the walls of the plate defining such opening eliect converging of said'loc-k bars into tight frictional engagement with said slide bars.

10. An actuating mechanism for seats of the type having a first movable section fixed section, comprising an elongated actuator body operatively connected to one of said first and second seat sections, a slide bar assembly longitudinally disposed within said actuator body comprising a plurality of individual slide bars opera-tively connected to the other of said first and second seat sections, a lock bar assembly comprising a plurality of individual lock bars interleaved with said slide bars and operatively connected to said actuator body, means for spacing adjacent interleaved look and slide bars to condition the same for substantially free relative movement therebetween to thereby effect adjusting movement of said movable section upon the application of force thereto, and means for frictionally clamping said slide and lock bars for retaining said movable seat section in such adjusted position.

11. An actuating mechanism for seats of the type having a first movable section and a second fixed section, comprising an elongated actuator body operatively connected to one of said first and second seatsections, a slide bar assembly longitudinally disposed within said actuator body comprising a plurality of individual slide bars operatively connected to the other of said first and second seat sections, a lock bar assembly comprising a plurality of indi vidual lock bars interleaved with said slide bars and operatively connected to saidactuator body, means'for spacing adjacent interleaved lock and slide bars to condition the same for substantially free relative movement therebet-Ween to thereby effect adjusting movement of said movablesection upon the application of force thereto, first spring means for urging said first movable seat section to a forwardmost position and means for frictionally clampingsaid slide and lock bars for retaining said movable seat section in such adjusted position, said frictional clamping means including a second spring means biasing said slide and lock bars into frictional engagement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,638,151 5/ 1953 Jones 297-359 2,750,994 6/1956 Howell 18867 X 2,893,766 7/ 1959 Meyer 74-531,X 2,962,087 11/1960 Bareoki et a1 297--359 X 3,155,199 11/1964 Bricker 188-67 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

R. B. FARLEY, Assistant Examiner. 

10. AN ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEATS OF THE TYPE HAVING A FIRST MOVABLE SECTION FIXED SECTION, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ACTUATOR BODY OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SEAT SECTIONS, A SLIDE BAR ASSEMBLY LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID ACTUATOR BODY COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL SLIDE BARS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SEAT SECTIONS, A LOCK BAR ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL LOCK BARS INTERLEAVED WITH SAID ALIDE BARS AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ACTUATOR BODY, MEANS FOR SPACING ADJACENT INTERLEAVED LOCK AND SLIDE BARS TO CONDITION THE SAME FOR SUBSTANTIALLY FREE RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN TO THEREBY EFFECT ADJUSTING MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE SECTION UPON THE APPLICATION OF FORCE THERETO, AND MEANS FOR FRICTIONALLY CLAMPING SAID SLIDE AND LOCK BARS FOR RETAINING SAID MOVABLE SEAT SECTION IN SUCH ADJUSTED POSITION. 